The Scoop: UF Health Shines Again + Milton Details You Can't Miss

Good morning friends,

We've got a rainy few days ahead of us so grab your umbrellas, rain boots, and your hurricane guilty snack of choice. Today's edition is fairly focused on the hurricane news and resources, but read on to get the full scoop! Stay safe, all.

🌡️ Wednesday: High is 76°F and Low is 70° with 99% chance of rain ☔️ , Thursday: High is 70°, low of 59° (brr…) with 70% chance of rain ⛈️ We’re currently under tropical storm warning and floor watch for our area.

📰 The General Scoop:

• 🧒 🏥 UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital has once again been recognized for providing top-tier care, earning high marks in the latest U.S. News & World Report survey. Five of their pediatric specialties ranked among the best in the nation for 2024-25. Highlights include:

  • Pulmonology & Lung Surgery – No. 23, Diabetes & Endocrinology – No. 33, Cardiology & Heart Surgery – No. 38, Cancer – No. 49, Pediatric Behavioral Health – recognized nationally (new specialty!)

  UF Health Shands also tied for No. 10 in the Southeast and continues to be among the top children's hospitals in Florida.

• 🆘 Florida Calls for Federal Help After Hurricane Milton Governor Ron DeSantis has already requested more federal assistance to speed up debris cleanup after Hurricane Milton's landfall and potential destruction. DeSantis said the state will use every resource available, including federal funds, to recover as quickly as possible. FEMA's help is crucial, with plans to bring in out-of-state contractors to accelerate debris removal. The President has already approved Florida’s pre-disaster declaration and request, unlocking vital funds for search and rescue efforts, and DeSantis expects more aid to follow once the storm clears. DeSantis notes that this typically is a months long process to restore power and clean up debris, but he believes it can be faster with the right resources and processes.

🌀 Hurricane Milton Prep

• Storm Shelters Open:

  • Bronson Middle/High and Bronson Elementary will begin to serve as shelters at 8 AM. The Middle/High school is pet friendly, and Elementary will serve as special needs shelter.

  • UF is opening Southwest Rec to students, faculty, and their families at 1 PM today for shelter. You’ll need your Gator One and the link has a list of everything they request you bring with you.

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center and Easton-Newberry Sports Complex are the general population and pet friendly shelters for Alachua County.

  • Alachua County Senior Recreation Center will serve as Alachua County’s special needs shelter.

• Publix will operate with modified hours in some places. While we don’t expect Publix in our area to be impacted with modified hours, it may be a good idea to satisfy that Pub Sub craving sooner rather than later!

• Shoutout to this /GNV Redditor who created a mega thread of all the local hurricane resources you may need.

🏅 Sports News:

• 🏈 The Gators face the 8th ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville on Saturday, kicking off a 6 game stretch of some of the toughest SEC foes. Catch the Gators on ESPN at 7 PM.

• 🎾 After an incredible 22-year career, Florida Gators Women's Tennis Coach Roland Thornqvist has announced his retirement, effective immediately. Thornqvist led the Gators to four NCAA titles and seven SEC championships, With a coaching career that spanned more than two decades, he’s been a tried and true figure helping shape the future of many young athletes. His impact on the program will definitely be missed!

• 🏐 Gator Volleyball should be back in action on Friday, October 11th at 7 PM in the O’Dome against SEC opponent, Mississippi State.

📆 Things to Do:

^{Wednesday, October 9th:}

🤸 Stay & Play at Sun Country Jonesville (9:30 AM - 11:30 AM) Parents: This is your opportunity to let your kids blow off some steam before Milton makes its way into town. A weekly event, Stay and Play allows kids under 5 to enjoy an open play session!

_{Thursday, October 10th:}

Our guess is that most events Thursday will be canceled due We did receive word that the Tom Petty Weekend celebration has been rescheduled to November 8th and 9th.

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Be safe, and thanks for reading!
Lauren
Swamptown Scoop